The candidates gave 90-second opening statements, starting off with Stewart, who was fighting laryngitis. Stewart offered an apology to both Scaro and Jackson for his demeanor during the prior debate in Champaign regarding a financial question. All three candidates expressed their appreciation for the host chapter and the college for hosting the debate.

Issues discussed during the first half of the debate included Federal expansion of the Medicaid program for states, the consolidation of local governments, the ongoing saga of the state’s fiscal crisis, transportation infrastructure, state’s rights vs. the Federal government on legalized marijuana, crime in the Chicagoland and St. Louis Metro-East regions and the Second Amendment.

Issues discussed during the second half of the debate included governmental accountability, the nearby airport that’s losing money, property taxes, Chicago Public Schools bailouts, coal, ballot access and cryptocurrencies.

The Libertarian Party of Illinois and the Libertarian Party of Chicago are working on scheduling the final gubernatorial debate before the membership chooses their gubernatorial candidate at their state convention on March 3.

Thanks to the Metro-East Libertarian Party for providing the video from the livestream. Please note that the audio is pretty low in the first half of the debate and improves around 1:01:33. If you are wear earbuds or headphones, adjust your audio appropriately.

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About the Author

Jake Leonard - Jake Leonard is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. He is general manager of Heartland Internet Media Networks, an active contributor to the Nokomis Free Press-Progress/The Morrisonville Times and serves as website administrator for Pana News, Inc. He also serves as chairman of Tri-Counties Libertarian Party, deputy communications director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois and as chairman/co-founder of the Libertarian Party Millennial Caucus.